Floor cleaning and polishing device



Dec. 8, 1942. JILBERT 2,304,257

FLOOR CLEANING AND POLISHING DEVICE Fileh Feb. 17. 1941 ATTORNEY? PotcntedDea8J942- i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,304,257 FLOOR CLEANING Ann rousnmo DEVICE v Emeline K. .Iilbert, Blasdell, N. Y. Application February 1'1, 1941, Serial No. 379,176

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device {or cleaning and polishing floors and more particularly to a device of this character having an applicator such as a brush, mop, or the like for applying a cleaning or polishing liquid to a floor, a storage tank or reservoir which contains a supply of said liquid and a hand operated valve mechanism which controls the delivery of said liquid from the tank to the floor and applicator.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved valve mechanism for controlling the discharge of liquid from the storage tank or reservoir and simple and efficient means for detachably connecting the holder of a brush or other applicator to the handle of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying a satisfactory form of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the valve mechanism and the holder coupling of said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the upper part of the liquid containing tank or reservoir and the adjacent parts of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve in a different position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line s 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 66, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a'perspective view of the applicator holder.

In the following description similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

In its general organization the apparatus comprises a tank adapted to contain a floor cleaning or polishing liquid, a holder adapted to receive an applicator whereby the liquid is spread over the floor, a valve mechanism whereby the discharge of liquid from the tank to the floor or applicator is controlled, and coupling means for detachably connecting the tankand holder.

The container or reservoir in which the liquid is stored preferably has the form of a longitudinal tube or hollow bar II) which also forms the main handle whereby the apparatus is manipulated and which is usually arranged in a rearwardly inclined position when the apparatus is in use. The cleaning or polishing liquid is introduced into this tank at the upper or rear end thereof and when the apparatus is in use this end of the tank is closed by a cover consisting preferably of a screw plug ll. At its lower seat l2 which surrounds the lower outlet or port through which the liquid is discharged from the tank. Opening and closing of this port is effected by a valve I3 which preferably has the form of a ball or sphere one part of which is cut away to form a flat face l4. When this ball valve is in its closed position all parts of the annular valve seat are engaged by an annular area of the ball valve, as shown in Fig. 2, but when this ball valve is turned so that its fiat surface l4 extends across a part of the annular valve seat I2, as shown in Fig. 4, then the outlet port of the liquid container is uncovered and. liquid is permitted to be discharged downwardly from the container.

Various means may be employed for rocking the ball valve and opening and closing the same and also producing a tight joint between the same and the seat of the liquid container but this is preferably accomplished as follows:

The numeral l5 represents a helical spring which bears with its upper end against the under or rear side of the ball valve. On opposite sides of this spring are arranged two metal. longitudinal arms or bars i6 the rear ends of which are connected and preferably formed integrally with a sheet metal sleeve ll which is secured to the exterior of the lower part of the tubular liquid container, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Between their front and rear ends the side arms l6 are provided with opposed hooks or fingers 9 which are struck out of the metal of the arms I6 and project inwardly and rearwardly into the front end of the helical spring li'and form a support for this end of the same. By this means the ball valve is yieldingly held in engagement with its seat on the liquid tank so as to prevent leakage therefrom when the ball valve is closed and yet permits this valve to be easily rocked or 22 connecting the sections iii of the operating arm and drawing the jaws IQ of the same together so that the same grip the ball valve and compel the latter to turn with these rock arm sections. By these means it is possible to always swing the operating arm [8 through the same arc end the tank is provided with an annular valve and still permit of adjusting the ball valve cirtween the periphery of the ball valve and its 3 seat for producing a tight flt when this becomes necessary due to wear or other causes.

Rocking of the operating arm I8 is effected by means which include a longitudinally movable shifting rod.23 arranged lengthwise above the container l and connected with the rock arm l3 by a loop 24 at the front end of the rod 23 and received in an annular groove 23 in the central cumferentially relative to its seat so as to bring the flat spot ll of the same into the proper location and also to change the area of contact beparts of the coupling bars or arms I are sprung together sufficiently to permit of passing the hooks 43 between the coupling eyes and alining these arms with the notches 33 of the retaining posts 33 and upon now releasing these arms their resilience will cause them to spread and engage their coupling hooks It with the coupling eyes 31 and also engage these arms with the retaining notches 33. when thus assembled the brush holder will be reliably coupled with the handle tank 23 so that the brush holder is held against lateral movement and also against vertical swingingmovement relative to'the handle I3 and thus enables the apparatus to be moved efficiently and under complete control in all directions over the floor while cleaning or polishing the same.

I1 and having its sections connected by a screw 23 and receiving the adjacent lower part of the shifting rod 2 3, and a rear split guide ring 23 mounted on the rear part of the tubular container l0 and having its ends connected by a screw and receiving between them the upper or rear part of the valve shifting rod, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. The valve I3 is yieldingly held in its closed position by a helical spring 3| which surrounds the lower part of the shifting rod 23 and is connected at its lower end withthe guide tube 21 while the upper end of this spring is connected with an s-shaped bend 32 formed on the shifting rod. Upon taking hold of the mitting liquid to flow upon the floor or applicator and upon releasing this grip the spring 3| moves the shifting rod downwardly and closes the valve." The applicator whereby the liquid is distributed.

over the floor for cleaning or polishing the same may be of various forms but in the drawing is shown as consisting of a brush having an upper rectangular stock 33 and bristles 34 projecting downwardly from the underside of the stock.

The holder which carries said stock is preferably constructed of sheet metal to form a flat top 35 and two transverse channels 36 which are formed on the underside of the body at opposite edges thereof and adapted to receive the opposite edges of the brush stock. Coupling means are provided which are constructed in accordance with this invention and whereby the brush holder is detachably connected with the liquid tank forming the main handle of the apparatus. The coupling means are preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 3'! represents two coupling eyes which are arranged transversely in line on the upper side of the holder body and which are preferably formed by stamping the same upwardly out of the sheet body of the holder. In rear of these coupling eyes two retaining posts 38 are bent upwardly out of the stock of metal of the brush holder and provided on their opposing inner sides with retaining notches 39.

The front parts of the coupling arms IS on the -liquid tank are resilient and diverge forwardly and downwardly and provided at their front ends with coupling hooks or lugs 40 which project horizontally outward in opposite directions.

For the purpose of assembling the brush holder and tank handle it of the apparatus the front This apparatus is not only very simple and em,-

'cient in construction but it also permits of quick ly and conveniently disassembling and reassembling the parts for the inspection and cleaning and the several parts are of sturdy construction and not liable to get out of order under severe use.

I claim as my invention:

l. A floor cleaning and polishing device co prising a tank adapted to contain a liquid and provided with an outlet, a spherical valve engaging said outlet, and means for turning said valve in: cluding an arm constructed to grip said valve frictionally and permit circumferential adjustment of said valve and arm relative to each other.

2. A floor cleaning and polishing device comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid and Provided with an outlet and an annular valve seat around said outlet, a spherical valve engaging said seat and provided on its periphery with a flat face, and means for turning said valve in- I cluding a rock arm having two sections which are provided at their inner ends with Jaws which grasp opposite sides of the spherical surface of spherical surface ofthe valve engages all parts of the seat, thereby closing the tank and also turning the valve so that its flat area is opposite a part of the valveseat and thereby opens the tank for discharging liquid therefrom.

4. A floor .cleaning device comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid'and provided on its lower end with a valve seat, a rotatable ball shaped valve engaging said seat and having al flat area, means for turning said valve so that its flat area is within the valve seat and the spherical surface of the valve engages all parts of the seat, thereby closing the tank and also turning the valve so that its fiat area is opposite EMELINE K. JILBERT. 

